Carson Wentz and the Eagles have the NFL’s best record at 8-1. (Bill Streicher/USA Today)

Each week, national NFL writer Mark Maske will provide his ranking of the league’s 32 teams. This week, Philadelphia and New England flip spots in the rankings, as the Eagles move up and the Patriots drop after two weeks on top. Dallas was the week’s big mover, jumping from No. 11 to sixth after a strong showing against Kansas City. That could change, however, with Ezekiel Elliott’s legal status still in limbo.

The Patriots return from their bye to play a Sunday night game in Denver that once looked like it would be a marquee matchup. Instead, it’s a chance for the Patriots to take advantage of a Broncos team that is struggling mightily and couldn’t come close to keeping pace with the Eagles on Sunday.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) | Last Week’s Rank: 3

The Steelers aren’t being challenged in the AFC North but this is now about vying for a first-round bye and possible home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. They return from their bye to play Sunday at Indianapolis and cannot afford a misstep against the overmatched Colts.

4. Los Angeles Rams (6-2) | Last Week’s Rank: 5

The Rams are back in the driver’s seat in the NFC West. The Seahawks say they aren’t ready to step aside for the Rams. But the Rams might not be giving them any choice.

[One key sign that Jared Goff is for real, and the Rams are contenders in the NFC]

5. New Orleans Saints (6-2) | Last Week’s Rank: 8

Two games — and two losses — into the season, the defense looked atrocious and the futures of Coach Sean Payton and QB Drew Brees appeared uncertain with the Saints seemingly headed to, at best, another mediocre season. Six wins later, the defense looks like an asset and Payton and Brees at least can entertain notions of reaching another Super Bowl together.

6. Dallas Cowboys (5-3) | Last Week’s Rank: 11

The availability of RB Ezekiel Elliott has become a week-to-week matter, with his case back in federal court Thursday. The Cowboys are making the most of things, with an impressive victory Sunday at home over the Chiefs. They go to Atlanta this weekend with a chance to push the reeling Falcons even further back in the NFC wild-card chase.

[The Cowboys are Dak Prescott’s team, with or without Ezekiel Elliott]

7. Minnesota Vikings (6-2) | Last Week’s Rank: 6

The Vikings have been winning with Case Keenum at QB. But they have some interesting decisions to make, with Teddy Bridgewater perhaps on the verge of being returned to the active roster and Sam Bradford still sidelined by knee problems. The Vikings play five of their remaining eight games on the road.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3) | Last Week’s Rank: 10

The Jaguars disciplined rookie RB Leonard Fournette and still had no trouble beating the Bengals. The new regime of front office czar Tom Coughlin and Coach Doug Marrone isn’t messing around. And it is getting results.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-3) | Last Week’s Rank: 12

Not much has come easily this season for the Panthers, and last week’s curious trade-deadline deal of WR Kelvin Benjamin was the latest issue to make things seem less than ideal. But the Panthers continue to play well through it all, and the win over the Falcons means that they are the primary challenger to the Saints in the NFC South.

10. Tennessee Titans (5-3) | Last Week’s Rank: 15

The Titans relatively quietly have put together a three-game winning streak to put them on pace for a 10-victory season. They and the Jaguars have emerged as the class of the AFC South. Could the division title be at stake when the two teams meet in the regular season finale?

11. Kansas City Chiefs (6-3) | Last Week’s Rank: 7

The Chiefs don’t resemble the team that began the season 5-0. But with the Raiders and Broncos failing to put much pressure on them in the AFC West, they haven’t had to be that team.

12. Buffalo Bills (5-3) | Last Week’s Rank: 9

They ended the first half of their season with a disappointing performance and a loss to the Jets last Thursday night in the Meadowlands. They open the second half of their season Sunday at home against the Saints in an intriguing matchup of teams having surprisingly successful years.

13. Washington Redskins (4-4) | Last Week’s Rank: 18

That was a stunning victory in Seattle, given the depleted state of the Redskins’ offensive line. It’s still difficult to imagine the Redskins contending for much of anything unless they can get far healthier and provide far more help to QB Kirk Cousins. But if they can hold things together a bit longer and some of their injured key players return, you never know.

[Seahawks win was great, but Redskins’ next two games will likely decide playoff fate]

14. Seattle Seahawks (5-3) | Last Week’s Rank: 4

The loss to the Redskins was alarming. Yes, the kicking misadventures of Blair Walsh played a key part in the defeat. But playing at home against a team with the sort of injuries that the Redskins had along their offensive line, the Seahawks should not have allowed it to come down to kicking. That’s the sort of performance that signals you might not be as good as you think you are.

15. Oakland Raiders (4-5) | Last Week’s Rank: 23

The Raiders are talking about going 6-1 the rest of the way to reach 10 wins and secure a playoff spot. Nothing about how they have played suggests that the Raiders are about to go on such an extended run of solid play.

16. Arizona Cardinals (4-4) | Last Week’s Rank: 24

Beating the 49ers with Drew Stanton at QB was one thing. Trying to beat the Seahawks with Stanton at QB is another matter entirely. The Cardinals get their chance Thursday night.

17. Detroit Lions (4-4) | Last Week’s Rank: 26

Matthew Stafford earned his money Monday night in Green Bay and the Lions climbed back into the conversation in the NFC North.

18. New York Jets (4-5) | Last Week’s Rank: 27

Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t do the Jets that much good when he was their QB. He can do them some good Sunday in Tampa by losing to them, now that he has taken over as the Buccaneers’ fill-in starter.